With a deadline of Apr. 21 rapidly approaching, the J-D turf and track campaign members are doing all they can to encourage donations to make their dream of a brand new turf field and renovated track a reality. Amy Burns is a co-chair of fundraising for the turf and track campaign and she thinks that a main reason why people have been so hesitant to donate is because of rumors flying around about who’s making donations and how much has been raised so far.

“I think one reason everyone’s very hesitant to make donations right now is that they want to see who’s doing what and who’s donating,” Burns said. “The other reason they’re hesitating is because of our deadline. If we don’t raise the money by April 21, we’re going to continue to donate through the summer and next year so that we don’t infringe on sports practices.”

Burns said that the campaign has received some donations already, but the members still have a long way to go before reaching the $1.6 million dollar goal they’ve set for themselves. Because the J-D school board never put the proposition of a field out for vote, the only way the campaign will be a success is through donations.

“We think it’s a positive thing that it didn’t go out to vote,” Burns said. “This way, it’s for people who really want to support the turf project on their own.”

The campaign has Pete Sala on board to spearhead the construction of the proposed track and field. Sala is the Director of Athletics for Facilities and the Managing Director of the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University. Burns said that having Sala’s help and privately funding the project imposes no burden on the taxpayers, which is something the committee wanted to avoid after the discontent in F-M about its then- proposed turf field four years ago.